Recording apparatus for railway-signals



L. S. BRACH.

RECORDING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, I9I3. 1,350,355. P t d Aug. 24,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES INVENTOR L. S. BRACH.

RECORDING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY SIGNALS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1913.

1 ,350,355. P n e Aug- 24, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES UNITED STA TES PATENT OFFICE.-

"LEON s. BRA-CH, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

RECORDING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY-SIGNALS.

Application filed March 6,

certain new and useful Improvements ifi\ Recording Apparatus. for Railway-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mechanism for automatically indicating the time. of day,

and the duration of time, of the operation of. a signal or similar device, and is particularly adaptable for use in connection withrailway signalin p A particular 0 ject of .the invention is to provide a mechanism of simple and pract1-' cal construction which will provide a record of substantially the precise moment when a train enters a'block or approaches within a prescribed distance of a railway grade crossing, and the duration. of time consumed by the train in traversing the block, or distance before reaching and passing a grade crossing. The record incidentally indicating the approximate speed of the train.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the class described which may be contained within a convenient casing, to provide a tape to receive the record, to provide means .for severing given lengths of the tape after the record has been impressed thereon, to provide the casing with a door to be opened by an inspector through which door the inspector may impress upon the tape a prescribed mark indicating the fact ofv his inspection, and to provide a second casing, or a separate compartment within the first casing, to which the inspector has no access, this second compartment being designed to receive the severed lengths of tape with the inspectors marks thereon, and being accessible through a separate door having a separate lock.

A further object is to provide means operable in conjunction with the signal registering mechanism for indicating upon the tape the track over/which a train has passed. This object being particularly directed to multi-track systems.

A further object is to provide a motor for operating the recording mechanism and -to provide means for keeping power generated in said motor incident to the operationof the signal mechanism.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to tion Specification of Letters Patent. Y Patented Aug, 24, 1920,

1913. Serial No. 1 2. 95.

above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the, elements, combinations arrangements of parts and applications 0 principles, constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings whichare and in which I have shown a merely preferredv form of embodiment of the inven- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a this invention illustrating the same contained in a two-compartment casing;

'to be taken as a part of this specification, 66

' mechanism constructed in accordance with 70 Fig. 3 is a plan view'of a section of the 76 tape employed for single track systems or other systems where a record of the signal is desired; ig. 4 is a. diagrammatic illustration onl Fig. 5 is a plan view of a section of the tape employed in a multi-track s stem;

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modification;

Fig. 8 .is a plan view of the tape with the wiring employed in multi-track systems; 80

a record impressed thereon such as would .bell as commonly used at grade crossings.

It is often a point ofvery great importance to determine, with a reliable degree of accuracy, whether or not a signal was sounded, at a given time. In cases of accidents at 1 grade crossings the extent of responsibility, or non-responsibility, of the railway company, and consequently of the degree of carelessness or indifference displayed by others interested, hinges entirely upon whether or not the signal had sounded at a given time, upon what track a train approached, whether one or more trains were approaching, from what directions, etc.

Witnesses, because of their inability to designate, or appreciate, the difference that a minuteor so one wa or the other, may make in the location 0 a moving train, or through not having noticed the time at which certain events transpired, often contradict each other in these matters, and

' avoid a Satisfactory explanation of the acciwhich is mounted a timepiece or motor 2 I the wheel 3, the tape connected for rotating an ogeratin g wheel 3. The wheel 3 is provided wit teeth 4 adapted to en a e within apertures 5 uniformly space a ong the length of a tape 6.

A roller 7 is provided in juxtaposition to being fed between the roller and the wheel from a spool 8. As the tape leaves the roller 7 it passes beneath a recordin member or pencil 9 and thence beneath a finife 10. The knife 10 is operated by a cam or other suitable driven from the motor 2.

The casin 1 comprises two compartments, one of whic as 12, preferably incloses all of the mechanism described except knife 10 and its immediate operating means, which parts are inclosed by the other compartment, as 13. A door 14 is formed in the wall of the compartment 12 through which an in spector may examine the mechanism wlthln that compartment and through which he may impress a mark, indicating the fact and time of his inspection, upon the tape. The door 14 is illustrated adjacent the roller 7 so that said roller may serve as a surface to receive the pressure of the inspectors mark. This, however, may be modified to suit conditions, it being, of course, preferable to have the inspectors mark impressed as near the recording pencil as possible.

The door 14 is held by a lock 15 of which the inspector may hold the key.

A door 16 provides entrance into the compartment l3 and is fitted with a lock 17 to which a special ofiicer holds the key.

mechanism, as 11,

The compartment 13, it will be noticed, re- I ceives the severed sections of tape with the record impressed. The recording means or pencil 9 is preferably disposed quite near to the partition which divides the compartments 12 and 13, so that a marked section of tape will pass almost immediately into the compartment 13 and will be thereafter inaccessible except to the party holding the key to lock 17.

A check is thus kept upon the inspector. He is prevented from altering any record made by the pencil or by himself within a few minutes after the record is made.

The audible signal device shown in F ig. 2 comprises a gong as 1 8, and the clapper 19 carried by armature 20 which is in turn adapted to be actuated by the magnets 21 in the usual manner.

Whenever the signal device is sounded, it is desired that the pencil 9 may indi'cate that the space between these transverse fact upon the surface of the tape 6 'At all times when the signal device is silent the [pencil will inscribe a straight line upon the tape occasioned by the continuous passage of the tape beneat it Any suitable mechanism may be employed for transmitting the vibration of the armature 20 to the pencil 9, but for this purpose I have indicated mechanism in Fig. 2 which may be described for the purpose of illustration. This mechanism, comprises a holder 22 slidabl versely o the direction of movement of the tape. Within the holder 22 is a spring 24 for impelling the pencil toward the tape. Extending upwardly from the holder 22 is an arm 25 directly connected by a link 26 with the armature 20. A light spring 27 is illustrated for moving the holder 22, and also the armature 20, in a direction away from the magnets 21. When the magnets are energized the armature will be moved to the left in Fig. 2 against the tension of the spring 27 and transmit that movement to the pencil. When the magnets 21 are deenergized the sprin 27 will immediately retract the pencil. bus, when the signal is sounded, the mark upon the tape will be given a zig-zag formation for a distance along the length of the tape correspondin signal continues to operate.

In order to determine the duration of time during which the signal operated I have found it desirable to print upon the tape. a succession oftransverse lines evenly spaced apart, the space between said lines indicating a given lapse of time. For the sake of description, it will be assumed that lines indicates a lapse of one minute, as shown by the figures, applied to these lines in Fig. 3. If the zigzag formation'of the record line, therefore, extends from one of the transverse lines to the other, it is obvious that the signal has sounded for a period of one full minute.

In order to make the record upon the tape complete, the transverse lines may be marked with figures to indicate the time of day, the adjustment being made so that the line marked, for instance, two oclock will pass beneath the pencil 9 at exactly two oclock. The difference between a day record and a night record may be noted by a difference in the color of the tape or by any other desired means.

The reading of the record shown upon the pe illustrated in Fig. 3 is as .fol-

about thirty seconds after 1.50 oclock and continued to sound until ft 1 k Th about thirty seconds a er 1.510000 e signal next began to assumlng the tape to travel beneath.

mounted, upon a guide 23,'transg.95 with the duration of time during which the sound at 1.54 oclock and continued until 1.57 oclock. The signal next began to sound at about thirty seconds before 1.59 oclock and continued to sound until two oclock. The signal next began to sound at a few seconds before 2.03 oclock and continued to sound until about thirty seconds after 2.03 oclock.

As an illustration of the value of this rec- 0rd, we may assume that an accident occurred at the crossing, which this signal in question is intended to guard, at 1.55 oclock. A contention that the signal was not oper ating at the time of the accident would be positively disproved by the record on the tape where it is seen that the clapper of the bell had been vibrating continuously from 1.54 until 1.57, fully covering the time at which the accident occurred.

In the instances of application of this mechanism to a multi-track system it becomes desirable to indicate upon the tape not only the fact of the sounding of the audible signal, but also to indicate upon which of the various tracks a train was present.

In Fig. 4 I 'have'illu'strated diagrammatically a system of four tracks having the necessary wiring associated therewith for operating a mechanism to indicate which of the tracks were occupied at a glven time.

The mechanism illustrated comprises a plurality of recording devices or'pencils, as 28, one for each of the tracks, each of the pencils being carried by holders pivotally mounted upon supports, as 29, and having a laterally extending arm 30 serving as an armature to be operated upon by aset of magnets 31 to swing the pencil about the pivot 29 from an inoperatlve to an operative position. The several pencils are spaced apart transversely of the length of the tape and are normally held away from the surface of the tape as by a s'prlng 32. When one of the magnets 31 is energized the pencil of that magnet will be swung against the tape making, 1st, a short line transversely of the tape, 2nd, a line longitudinaly of the tape of a length determined by the duration of time during which the magnet 31 remained energized, occasioned by the passage of the tape beneath the pencil, and, 3rd, a second short line transversely of the tape as the pencil swings again to its normal position. The disposition of the pencils is such that the marks made thereby will not interfere with each other or with the record made by the sounding of the audible signal, as above described. Each of the pencils will occupy a path of its own longitudinally of the length of the tape, so that an inspection of the marks made thereby on the tape will indicate immediately which of the penoils have impressed a given mark.

The paths for the pencils 28 may be designated as A-'-B C-D, etc., as shown at the (ioottom of Fig. 5, or otherwise, as de- 1re Any suitable relay mechanism may be employed in connection with the track circuit for operating the magnets 31, such mechan1sm be1ng indicated by the relay magnets 33 w1th their armatures 34. The track circuit being a closed circuit the magnets 33 w1ll be normally energized and the armatures 34 will be held away from contacts35. when, however, a train approaches a given point in the track, the track current Wlll be short-circuited and the armature 34 identified with that particular track will fall 1nto engagement with contact 35 closing a local c rcuit for one of the magnets 31.

In Fig. 4 I have diagrammatically illustrated a roadway, or grade crossing, as at 36. I have also illustrated four tracks which may be designated as two northbound as A and B, and two southbound as C and D. Each of these tracks is independently connected with one of the relay magnets 33 as by wires 37. In order to determine the point in the track at which a relay is to be energized, I have indicated sections of insulation 38 in the tracks. In order to determine the point at which the relay is to be deenergized, I have indicated sectlons of insulation 39 in the tracks. The sections of insulation 39 are preferably disposed at the side of the grade crossing first reached by the approaching train and the sections of msulation 38 are placed at a considerable distance down the track, this distance being preferably not more than several hundred For track A, wire 40 leads from armature 34 of the relay magnet 33 of that track to local battery 41 and wire 42 to pencil op- 43 leads from magnet 31 to contact 35 of the rela magnet. Branch wires 44 and 45 extend rom the wires 42 and 43 to the operating magnets 21 of the signal bell, so that the signal may be shunted in on the batter 41.

or the track B, wire 46 leads from the armature 34 of the relay magnet for that track to battery 47, thence wire 48 leads to the pencil operating magnet for that track. Wire 49 leads from the pencil operating magnet to the contact 35 of the relay magnet. The wires 48 and 49 are connected to wires 44 and 45 so as to shunt in the signal operating m'a nets 21 upon the battery 47.

For track wire 50 leads from the armature of the relay for that track to battery 51. Wire 52 leads thence to the pencil operating magnet for track 0. Wire 53 leads thence back to the contact 35 of the relay magnet for that track. The wires 52 and- 53 are connected with the wires 44 and 45 to shunt in the signal operating magnets 21 on the battery 51.

crating magnet 31 for that track. A wire out of operative position of the pencil 28.

' relay magnet.

- For track D, wire 54 leads from the armature of the relay for that track to battery 55. Wire 56 leads thence to the pencil operating magnets for that track. Wlre 57 leads thence back to the contact 35 of the Wires 56 and 57 are connected to the wires. 44 and 45 to shunt in the magnet 21 of the signal bell upon the battery 55.

It is apparent that upon the operation of anyone of the pencils 28, the ma nets 2i of the audible signal will be energized and the recording device connected therewith be caused to lnscribe a zig-zag line, as heretofore, through the full period of operation of the pencil 28. The beginning of the zig- -zag line being at the same nstant as the swlnging into operative position of the pen oil 28, and the cessation of the zig-zag line being at the same instant as the swinging While theaudible signal is described here as being shunted in on the batteries I the zig-zag line indicatin 4147-.-51 or 55, as the case may be, it is however apparent that a separate battery may be employed, if desired, or that other wiring may be made if preferred, the essential requirement being only that the audible signal and its recordmg means shall begin, and cease operation simultaneously with swinging into, and out of, operation of the track recording means.

Reading the record made upon the tape (see Fig. 5) as impressed thereon by the multi-track device just described: The signal first began to sound at a few seconds before 1.53 oclock and continued to sound until about 1.55 oclock. This operation of the signal was occasioned by the passing of a train on track B as indicated by line 58 on Fig. 5 (Bo-extensive with the length of this record. The next operation of t e signal began at about thirty seconds after 1.57 oclock and continued until about thirty seconds after 1.58 oclock. This 0 eration' of the signal was occasioned by the passage of a train on track A as indicated by line 59 co-extensive with the zigzag line indicating this record. 7 v

The next operation of the si nal began at a few seconds before two oc ock and continued until about thirty-seconds after 2.01 oclock. This operation of the signal was occasioned by the passage of two trains, the first of which passed on track D as indicated by line 60 and the second of which passed on track B as indicated by line 61. Y The next operation of the signal began at about thirty seconds after 2.05 oclock and continued until about 2.06 oclock. This operation was occasioned by the passage of I a train on track C as indicated by line 62.

. tion with the tram may be readily ascertained by the len h of the zig-zag portions of the line ma e by the pencil attached to the signal bell in most instances, and always by the lengthof the lines, as 58, 59, 60, 61, and 62 made by the pencils 28. In casesv where a single train approaches-in the vicinity of a grade crossing, the zig-zag line is sufficient, but in cases where two or more trains approach so as to operate the signal simultaneously withoutinterruption, the one taking up before the other leaves then the length of the lines made by the pencils 28, and their positions relatively to each other will indicate with a desirable degreeof accuracy the speed and the relative location of the two or more trains at a given time. This is exemplified in conneclines 60 and 61 on the record, Fig. 5. Here, it will be seen, that a train on track D reached the insulation 38 in said track, and passed on to the section of track defined by the insulation 38 and 39, at a few seconds before two oclock. It was traveling at a low rate of speed as indicated by the fact that it consumed approximately a minute and a half before it passed the insulation 39. Just before time this train passed the insulation 39 of track D, a second train, on track' B, reached the insulation 38 in track B and passed upon the section between the insulation 38 and insulation 39 of track B. This second train was a fast train as evidenced by the fact that it consumed something less than half a minute in reaching and passing the insulation '39 of track B.

The fact that the line 60 does not terminate until after the line 61 begins,tends to indicate that there was no appreciable length of time .in the period covered by the passage of both of the trains during which the grade crossing was open. The end of the first slew train had not reached the 4grade crossing, that is, it had not passed insulation 39, until a few seconds after the' secon train passed the insulation 38 commg the opposite direction. Since now the second train was moving at a high rate of speed it is almost conclusive evidence that the grade crossing was not open long enough for a pedestrian or vehicle to pass. culating upon the speeds of the two trains the point can be settled with accuracy. The signal bell continued to sound throu bout the passage of both trains without lnter- -rupt1on.

The structure illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is particularly adaptable to use in providing a record as to whether or not a semaphore arm was lowered or raised at a given time. In this mechanism the tape employed and also its operating means is substantially the same as heretofore. The pencil for mark- By caling upon the tape may also be the same. The precise means for operating the pencil from the semaphore arms is altered.

As shown best in Fig. 7 this modification comprises a-bell crank lever or its equivalent, as 63, having one of its arms connected by a link 64: similar to link-26 before deation, the rods 70 and 71 control the semaphore arms, each rod moving substantially,

the same distance to perform its functions. Since the collars 68 and 69 engage the arm of the bell crank at different distances from the pivot of the bell crank it follows that the bell crank will be swung to a greater extent when the rod 70, which is nearest the pivot of the bell crank, descends than when the rod 71 descends. This results in a movement of the pencil carried in holder to a greater distance along the guide 66 when one of the rods isdepressed than when the other is depressed.

This mechanism described is, of course, only exemplary of any suitable mechanism which may be employed to move the pencil to different positions according to which of the semaphore arms is moved, and the record made upon the tape is substantially as indicated in Fig. 8, wherein the relatively long straight portions of the record line 72 indicate the periods during which the semaphore arms were both in normal position. When one of the arms is lowered, as that connected with rod 70, the pencil will be caused to move to one side and inscribe a line as 73 in a path parallel to the normal line for a distance commensurate with the time during which the arm remained lowered. If the arm connected with the .rod 71 is lowered the pencil will be moved to one side, the same as before, but not to the same extent and the pencil will inscribe a line as 7 4. The record, therefore, will indicate which of the arms was lowered and for what length of time it remained lowered.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a simple means whereby the motor, or timepiece 2, shown in Fig. 1 may have its power continually Y maintained as a consequence to the operation of, a movable part of the signal mechanism.

For convenience it may be assumed that the operating member 75, shown in this figure, (and also in Fig. 1) is a member fixed to move with the operating rod of a semaphore arm. The member 75 is adapted to rotate a shaft 76 through the medium of a car 77 engaging gear teeth on the memer 75, a friction clutch 78 being interposed to prevent damage to the mechanism, as will be understood. A worm pinion 79 carried by the shaft 76 engages a worm wheel 80 to which one end of a motor spring, as 81, is secured, the other end of the spring being fixed to the drive shaft 82 of the motor.

This mechanism is, of course, only illustrative of any mechanism which may be used in this connection, and its details will also vary according to the type of motor em ployed.

As many changes could bemade in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, a signal member, a movable pencil controlled by said signal member, a movable tape disposed for being marked upon by said pencil, a casing inclosing all of said parts and having an opening therein at a point adjacent a portion of the tape whereby access is given into the casing for manually impressing a record upon the tape, said casing also having an opening disposed adjacent said pencil through which-the marked tape is projected, and a housing arranged about said second opening for receiving and inclosing the projected portions of the tape, said housing having an entrance opening controlled'by secret fastening means.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of railway tracks,'of a lurality of recording members one for each of said railway tracks, and means associated with said tracks and with said recording members respectively whereby the passage of a vehicle over one of said tracks will effect an operation only of the recording member associated with that track, a record tape arranged to be operated upon by said recording members, and means where- ,by each of said recording members will be controlled by said signal member, a record tape extending transversely of said record tape at opposite ends of said longitudinally extending mark.

3. In a device of the class descrlbed, the combination with a plurality of railway tracks, of a plurality of normally 1no erative recording members one for each 0 sa d railway tracks, means associated with said tracks and with said recording members re-.

spectively, whereby the passageof a train over any one of said tracks W111 effect a movement into operative position of the recording member associated with that track,

a record receiving member adapted to be marked upon by said recording members only when said recording members are moved into operative position, a signal member, and a recording member associated with sald signal member disposed for marking continuously upon said record receiving'member.

1. In a device of the class described, a signal member, a record impressing member ceiving member away from said record impressing member, time controlled means for severing said moved parts, and means for guarding said severed parts.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of railway tracks, and a signal device, of a plurality of record impressing members, one associated with said si nal device and one associated with each of said railway tracks, a record receiving member disposed for being operated upon by each record impressing member, and means whereby the record impressing member associated with the signal device is adapted to operate upon said record receiving member simultaneously with the operation of any one of said other record impressing members. v Ina device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of railway tracks, and a signal device, of a plurality of recording devices therefor, one associated with said si al device and one associated with each of s aid railway tracks, means for operating said recording devices, and means whereby the recording device associated with the signal device is adapted to operate simultaneously with the operation of any one of the recording devices associated with the railway tracks.

with said signal device 8. In a device of the class described, the

devices therefor, one associated signal device and one assoclated of the class described, the combination with a plurality of railway tracks, and a signal device, of a plurality of recording devices therefor, one associatedv with said signal device and oneassociated with each of said railway tracks, means for operating said recording devices, and. the

operation of the signal device being consequ'ent upon the operation of cording devices. I

10. In a device of the class described a plurality of recording devices, a signal device, means foroperating said recording,

devices, and means whereby the! operation of one of said recording devices will cause operation of said si nal device.

11. In a device 0 the class described, the combination with a movable signal member, of an operation recording device therefor,

of a plurality of of said railway tracks, means for one of said rea motor for operating the recording device, 7

and means cooperating between said motor and signal device whereby the power of said motor may be maintained.

12. Ina device of the class described, the \combination with a movable signal member, of a recording device therefor, a

spring for operating a movable part of said recording device, and means cooperating between said spring and signal device whereby the tension of said spring is maintained.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of railway tracks, and a si nal device, of a plurality of recording devices therefor, one associated and one associated with each of said railway tracks, means for operating said recording devices, and means whereby one of said recording devices is adapted to operate simultaneously with the operation of any one or more of the other recording devices.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with a lurality of railway tracks, and a signal evice, of a plurality of recording devices therefor, one associated with said signal device and one associated with each of said railway tracks, means for movable signal member, and a recording.

device connected therewith to be moved thereby, said recording device comprising, a pencil, a tape disposed for being marked upon by the pencil, means whereby relative movement is produced between the pencil and the tape whereby to inscribe a line extending longitudinally of the tape, and means for moving the pencil back and forth a plurality of times transversely of the tape during the formation of at least a portion of said line.

16. In a device of the class described, a bell having a movable clapper, a record receiving element, a record impressing element comprising a pencil, a pencil carrier,

a supporting shaft for the carrier uponwhich the carrier is slidably mounted, resilient means for urging the pencil toward the record receiving element, and a link extending between the carrier and the bell clapper to slide the carrier longitudinally of the shaft in response to the movements of the bell clapper.

17 In a device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of railway tracks, of a plurality of recording members one for each of said railway tracks, means associated with the tracks and with the recording members respectively whereby the passage of a vehicle over one of said tracks will effect an operation of the recording member associated with that track, a record receiving member, and means whereby at least one of said recording members will be caused to produce one kind of a record upon the record receiving member and "to means for moving parts of the recordreceiving member away from the record impressing member, in combination with time controlled means for effecting an operation upon the record receiving member at predetermined intervals.

19. In a device of the class described, a signal member, a record impressing member controlled by the signal member, a record receiving member disposed for being operated upon by the record impressing member, means for moving parts of the record receiving member away from the record impressing member, in combination with time controlled means for effecting an operation upon the record receiving member at predetermined intervals, and guard means for guarding that portion of the record receiving member which has been operated upon by said last mentioned means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEON S. BRACHf Witnesses:

L. GESSFORD HANDY, NATHALLE THoMrsoi- 

